RECENT WORK
5 Things You Can Do To Advance Justice Now
In 2025, federal threats like mass deportations, harsher crime policies, and an expanded death penalty loom large, but real change is still possible at the state and local level. This video explores how you can take action: from stopping mass deportations to ending forced prison labor and shutting down inhumane jails, here’s how you can fight for justice where it matters most. I created this in collaboration with my Communications colleagues at Vera Institute of Justice.
I directed and edited this video for a Juneteenth event at the Vera Institute of Justice, marking the federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. While celebrating freedom, the piece also calls for reflection on the ongoing work needed to build a nation grounded in justice and dignity for all. It connects the legacy of slavery to the present-day U.S. criminal legal system—rooted in white supremacy from the era of chattel slavery through the War on Drugs and modern sentencing practices—highlighting how mass incarceration continues to disproportionately harm Black and brown communities.
Cinematography: Arthur Woo
Juneteenth’s Legacy
Ashia shares how she rebuilt her life after returning from jail, overcoming probation, housing discrimination, unemployment, and the loss of her mother. From sleeping on couches and staying in shelters, she eventually found a landlord willing to give her a chance, and created a safe, welcoming home for herself and her son in Lansing, Michigan. Now, as manager of authentic engagement at the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, Ashia works to elevate the voices of people with lived experience and ensure they have a role in shaping housing policy. “We don’t want any handouts,” she says. “We need a place to live and raise our kids.”
Cinematography: Jan Reichle